London-based music technology startup Mozart AI has secured $6 million in seed funding led by Balderton Capital, paving the way for the launch of its mobile app.
The company describes itself as a startup “revolutionizing music creation with AI-powered tools.” It offers a Generative Audio Workstation (GAW) for both amateur musicians and seasoned producers.
The round, which closed oversubscribed, brings the startup’s total funding to more than $7 million following a $1.1 million pre-seed raise in July led by EWOR.
Participants in the latest round include EWOR, Mercuri (early stage MediaTech VC), Eventbrite founder Kevin Hartz, Oscar-winning director Charles Ferguson, Frame.io founder Emery Wells, and existing investors and strategic angels from music, AI and creator technology, Mozart AI said.
Commenting on the investment, Balderton Capital General Partner Daniel Waterhouse said: “AI is impacting every industry, and music is no different. The companies that win will be those that work with and for musicians, not against them.”
“AI is impacting every industry, and music is no different. The companies that win will be those that work with and for musicians, not against them.”
Daniel Waterhouse, Balderton Capital
Added Waterhouse: “That’s why we’re so excited about Mozart AI, whose exceptional founding team includes musicians, technologists, and serial entrepreneurs, with deep roots in the industry. Instead of being stunted by clunky and inaccessible legacy software, Mozart AI enables musicians and music enthusiasts to spend more time on the actual creative process, experimenting and iterating on their ideas with ease and speed. This team is building with exceptional focus and we’re excited to invest in the next generation of music technology.”
Balderton Capital previously invested in Kobalt Music Group, Soundtrack Technologies (formerly Soundtrack Your Brand) and ROLI.
Mozart AI says it will use the fresh capital to expand its team and its core tech, and further develop its product following the Beta launch ahead of a full public release.
Mozart AI claims that its GAW reached more than 100,000 users within two months of its September Beta launch, with 1 million songs created on the platform. Some tracks produced using Mozart AI have reached over 10 million streams on Spotify.
The startup has now released a mobile app, extending its desktop software to smartphones.
“Far from replacing creativity, AI is leveling up that adrenaline-filled process through which musicians compose and discover the right sounds.”
Sundar Arvind, Mozart AI
The company says its GAW integrates AI to help musicians, producers and enthusiasts compose, produce and distribute music. The platform offers what the company calls “context-aware stem generation,” as well as real time suggestions for midi progressions and drums, synth and effect generation.
The GAW can also be used to riff and remix any sound into a new style, and to create music videos that users can upload to social media platforms, said Mozart AI.
Sundar Arvind, CEO and co-founder of Mozart AI, said: “The creative process has always been integral to music-making and to music’s role in shaping global culture. Far from replacing creativity, AI is leveling up that adrenaline-filled process through which musicians compose and discover the right sounds.”
Arvind, signed to Warner Music Group label Spinnin’ Records at 14, is a former tennis pro and musician. He founded AI delivery startup, Blitzo, with COO Arjun Khanna.
Arvind added: “Mozart AI is building powerful generative tools for the next era of collaborative music creation that will enable every artist – from casual creators to professional producers – to turn any idea into a release-ready song in minutes, with commercial rights.
“We’re building toward a world where a spark of creativity – a guitar riff, a melody, an idea – can be transformed into a fully produced, monetizable song with a professional music video, without requiring technical knowledge or fragmented tools.”
“There’s an opportunity for technology to amplify and enhance talent, allowing more people to make and publish meaningful music without detracting from an artist’s skill or originality.”
Ash Pournori, Avicii’s former manager
Arvind co-founded Mozart AI with CTO Pascual Merita Torres and COO Arjun Khanna.
Producers working with artists including A$AP Rocky, Avicii, Kodak Black, and Lil Baby have used the platform, said Mozart AI.
Avicii’s former manager, Ash Pournori, said: “The big winners in the music AI race will be the platforms that present themselves as tools rather than threats to creatives. There’s an opportunity for technology to amplify and enhance talent, allowing more people to make and publish meaningful music without detracting from an artist’s skill or originality.”
“As a creative technologist and producer, Mozart Studio is one of the first AI music tools I’ve tried that actually accelerates ideation without flattening the creative process.”
Umair Ali, Producer
Umair Ali, Kodak Black and Lil Baby’s Producer, added: “As a creative technologist and producer, Mozart Studio is one of the first AI music tools I’ve tried that actually accelerates ideation without flattening the creative process. It feels like an always-on sketchpad for hooks, melodies, and arrangement. It helps you get from a rough concept to something session-ready fast, then refine it like a real record.”
Music Business Worldwide